Abstract: Single-use, disposable helmets, hoods, and helmet/hood assemblies are disclosed. Methods of making and using single-use, disposable helmets, hoods, and helmet/hood assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A helmet/hood assembly includes a housing, a support ring subassembly configured to hold the assembly on a human head, a face shield, and a flexible hood attached to the housing and to the face shield, with the assembly being received, stored, used, and disposed as a single unit. The support ring subassembly pivots on the housing between a position suitable for shipping and storing the assembly and a position in which the assembly is worn. An accessory light powered by a battery may be held in place on the housing by magnetic attraction through the hood.

Abstract: Opposite ends o a loop of surgical wire extending around an internal body part are joined by a connector, with the first end being rigidly fastened to the connector and with the second end then being pulled into place within a wire puller having a capstan that is rotated by squeezing a handle, preferably until the second end of the wire breaks, leaving one piece of wire in the wire puller and the other piece of the wire, extending to the loop, fastened within the connector. As the wire is tightened by the wire puller, a locking structure within the connector is deflected by contact with the tip of the wire puller into a shape preventing further movement off the wire within the connector.

Abstract: A helmet/hood assembly includes a housing, a support ring subassembly configured to hold the assembly on a human head, a face shield, and a flexible hood attached to the housing and to the face shield, with the assembly being received, stored, used, and disposed as a single unit. The support ring subassembly pivots on the housing between a position suitable for shipping and storing the assembly and a position in which the assembly is worn. An accessory light powered by a battery may be held in place on the housing by magnetic attraction through the hood.

Abstract: An ankle replacement prosthesis includes a tibial component, attached within a cavity formed in the tibia, and a talocalcaneal component, attached within a slot formed within a talocalcaneal compound, previously formed by fusing the talus and the calcaneus. Preferably, the talocalcaneal component includes a neck, to which a head, having a contact surface engaging a contact surface within the tibial component, is adjustably attached. These contact surfaces may both be spherical, with the contact surface of the talocalcaneal component being formed as a ball fitting within a socket formed by the contact surface of the tibial component, or these contact surfaces may include mating feature that limit inversion/eversion rotation of the foot, while providing for dorsal/plantar rotation thereof.

Abstract: An external fixation device for holding bone fragments in place includes a housing having a number of rotationally adjustable pin holders, each of which is held by a clamping member that simultaneously clamps the pin holder within an internal mounting surface of the housing and a bone pin within the pin holder. For example, the device includes a number of internal mounting surfaces, each of which can include a single pin holder. A drill guide fitting into the internal mounting surfaces is used to protect soft tissue from bone pins and they are rotated during installation.

Abstract: An external fixation device for holding bone fragments in place includes a housing having a number of rotationally adjustable pin holders, each of which is held by a clamping member that simultaneously clamps the pin holder within an internal mounting surface of the housing and a bone pin within the pin holder. A first embodiment includes a number of internal mounting surfaces, each of which can include a single pin holder. A second embodiment includes one or two internal mounting surfaces, each of which holds a row of pin holders that is clamped in place by a single clamping member.

Abstract: An external fixation device for holding bone fragments in place includes a housing having a number of rotationally adjustable pin holders, each of which is held by a clamping member that simultaneously clamps the pin holder within an internal mounting surface of the housing and a bone pin within the pin holder. For example, the device includes a number of internal mounting surfaces, each of which can include a single pin holder. A drill guide fitting into the internal mounting surfaces is used to protect soft tissue from bone pins and they are rotated during installation.

Abstract: An external fixator for a fractured distal radius including a first plurality of vertical passages for pins extending downward from a first pin mounting block into one or more bone fragments and one or more frame element apertures extending from an elongated frame element for pins extending downward from the device into the shaft of the radius. In addition, the elongated frame element includes a sliding pin slot with a sliding structure allowing a single pin to be moved to provide extension between the fragments and the shaft. A sliding internal plate including holes aligned with the first plurality of vertical passages is moved by a pair of setscrews to clamp the pins extending through the first plurality of vertical passages. The device also includes a second pin mounting block that extends downward parallel to the pins extending from first pin mounting block to hold pins directed laterally into the fragment(s).

Abstract: An external fixation device for holding bone fragments in place includes a housing having a number of rotationally adjustable pin holders, each of which is held by a clamping member that simultaneously clamps the pin holder within an internal mounting surface of the housing and a bone pin within the pin holder. A first embodiment includes a number of internal mounting surfaces, each of which can include a single pin holder. A second embodiment includes one or two internal mounting surfaces, each of which holds a row of pin holders that is clamped in place by a single clamping member.

Abstract: An external fixator for a fractured distal radius including a first plurality of vertical passages for pins extending downward from a first pin mounting block into one or more bone fragments and one or more frame element apertures extending from an elongated frame element for pins extending downward from the device into the shaft of the radius. In addition, the elongated frame element includes a sliding pin slot with a sliding structure allowing a single pin to be moved to provide extension between the fragments and the shaft. A sliding internal plate including holes aligned with the first plurality of vertical passages is moved by a pair of setscrews to clamp the pins extending through the first plurality of vertical passages. The device also includes a second pin mounting block that extends downward parallel to the pins extending from first pin mounting block to hold pins directed laterally into the fragment(s).

Abstract: An external fixation device for holding bone fragments in place includes a housing having a number of rotationally adjustable pin holders, each of which is held by a clamping member that simultaneously clamps the pin holder within an internal mounting surface of the housing and a bone pin within the pin holder. A first embodiment includes a number of internal mounting surfaces, each of which can include a single pin holder. A second embodiment includes one or two internal mounting surfaces, each of which holds a row of pin holders that is clamped in place by a single clamping member.

Abstract: A lifting chair, having a seat which is pivoted upward, being hinged along its front edge to help lift an individual who has trouble rising from an ordinary chair, also has arms which move upward during this pivoting process. Similarly, the seat and arms are moved downward to help the individual sit down. The linkage preferably is a parallelogram type preventing rotation of the arms as they are moved upward and downward along arcuate paths.

Abstract: A plug for stopping the flow of bone cement in a channel within bone includes an elastomeric inflatable structure protected from bone fragments and sharp edges by a shield extending around the inflatable structure. The shield may be formed as two or more coaxial structures having flexible members extending between opposite ends, with flexible members from an inner such structure curving outward to lie between adjacent flexible members from an outer such structure as the inflatable structure is inflated. The core is also removably connected to an insertion tool, with passageways in the insertion tool and in the core being used to insert a fluid into the inflatable structure. A valve extends as a sleeve around the core, and over the passageway, allowing fluid to flow into the inflatable structure, but preventing it from flowing out of the inflatable structure.

Abstract: A device for determining whether a rotating stream of water from a sprinkler has been successfully jumped by a person at a player position includes a first sensor generating an first signal as the stream of water passes a first location and a second sensor generating a second signal as the stream of water passes a second location, which is aligned with the player position. The device determines whether the second signal follows the first, indicating whether the stream of water has been blocked by the person, having failed to jump. The device then provides an audible of visible indication as a result of this determination. The device may also display a count of successful jumps.

Abstract: A trash bag includes a flexible receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom, a resilient stiffener attached to extend around the open top, and an attachment tab extending from the resilient stiffener for fastening the trash bag to hang from a structure within a vehicle. For example, both the flexible receptacle and the resilient stiffener are composed of a thermoplastic resin, being attached by heat sealing. Alternately, the flexible receptacle may be composed of paper, being adhesively attached to a cardboard or plastic stiffener.

Abstract: A fixture is configured to provide external fixation of a fractured distal radius by including a first number of holes for pins extending downward from the fixture into one or more bone fragments and a second number of holes for pins extending downward from the fixture into the shank of the radius. The fixture also includes a sliding block through which rods extend to hold pins directed laterally into the fragment(s). A sliding plate including a number of holes aligned with the first number of holes is moved by a pair of setscrews to clamp the pins extending through the first number of holes. The second number of holes includes a hole within a sliding structure allowing a single pin to be moved with a fixture to provide extension between the fragments and the shank of the radius.

Abstract: A plug for stopping the flow of bone cement in a channel within bone includes an elastomeric inflatable structure protected from bone fragments and sharp edges by a shield extending around the inflatable structure. The shield may be formed as two or more coaxial structures having flexible members extending between opposite ends, with flexible members from an inner such structure curving outward to lie between adjacent flexible members from an outer such structure as the inflatable structure is inflated. The core is also removably connected to an insertion tool, with passageways in the insertion tool and in the core being used to insert a fluid into the inflatable structure. A valve extends as a sleeve around the core, and over the passageway, allowing fluid to flow into the inflatable structure, but preventing it from flowing out of the inflatable structure.

Abstract: A fixture is configured to provide external fixation of a fractured distal radius by including a first number of holes for pins extending downward from the fixture into one or more bone fragments and a second number of holes for pins extending downward from the fixture into the shank of the radius. The fixture also includes a sliding block through which rods extend to hold pins directed laterally into the fragmentl(s). A sliding plate including a number of holes aligned with the first number of holes is moved by a pair of setscrews to clamp the pins extending through the first number of holes. The second number of holes includes a hole within a sliding structure allowing a single pin to be moved with a fixture to provide extension between the fragments and the shank of the radius.

Abstract: A floating light includes a lower base section, in which a battery holder is mounted, an electrically-driven light source, and an upper housing including an illuminated portion transmitting light. In one version, the upper housing is a translucent hemisphere, and the lower base portion includes a hemispherical internal reflector. In another version, the upper housing includes flexible transparent tubes in which LEDs are illuminated. In yet another version, upper housing includes optical fibers illuminated by a bulb. A plug filling an outer hole in the lower base section is preferably movable to turn the light on and off and removable to provide for battery replacement.